Occupational health and safety news and guidance

A countryside management firm has been sentenced over the death of a
father-of-four in Barrow-in-Furness, who was struck by a piece of metal
that flew off a strimmer at high speed.

Tony Robinson, 37, from Ulverston, died after a link from a chain,
spinning at around 300 miles an hour on a petrol strimmer, became
detached and struck him on the back of the neck, causing fatal injuries
at Ramsden Dock in Barrow on 8 February 2010.

ThreeShires Ltd, which specialises in ecological and forestry work,
was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an
investigation into Mr Robinson's death found the work had not been
planned or carried out safely.

Barrow Crown Court heard Mr Robinson, a self-employed contractor, had
been hired to help clear undergrowth at the site during the
construction of the new Waterfront business park. He was using a
chainsaw to cut back the overgrown vegetation, with another worker using
the strimmer on a nearby bank.

The chain attachment had been added to the strimmer so it could be
used for more heavy-duty work. But the HSE investigation found
ThreeShires had not properly considered the risks of using the
attachment, and had allowed Mr Robinson to work close to where the
strimmer was being operated.

ThreeShires Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of
workers. The company, of Kings Gardens in Grantham, Lincolnshire, was
fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 in prosecution costs on 12
March 2012.